TENS of thousands of asylum-seekers could be at risk of homelessness as the government fails to clear the system backlog by the end of 2023, the British Red Cross has warned.

The charity said its services have seen the number of people they support who have been granted refugee status but who have become destitute more than double since early summer.

It criticised changes it said the government has made to the time people are given to move out of asylum accommodation once they are given refugee status — the 28-day so-called “move-on” period.

Some refugees get just seven days’ notice, the charity said, leaving local authorities facing increased pressure to support people.

One of the charity’s refugee service managers added that in parts of Greater Manchester, “homelessness for single men has almost become a guaranteed part of getting refugee status.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to clear by the end of the year the backlog of older cases which had been in the asylum system as of the end of June 2022.

By the end of June 2023, there were 67,870 legacy asylum cases awaiting a decision.

The Home Office has previously insisted the government is “on track” to clear the legacy backlog by the end of 2023.

But the British Red Cross has estimated that, based on the percentage of people and dependants in the backlog who were in asylum accommodation in June last year, a worst-case scenario could see more than 53,000 people affected by having to leave their accommodation soon.

It suggested around 26,000 people are at risk even if the backlog is not cleared by the PM’s deadline.

The report follows last month’s similar warning from the Refugee Council.

Both charities said they have seen people left with too little time to move out of their asylum accommodation, with the British Red Cross today warning this “could lead to devastating levels of destitution.”

Alex Fraser, British Red Cross director for refugee support, said: “People who have been forced to flee their homes have already experienced unimaginable trauma.

“They need stability, support and to feel safe — making people destitute only causes more distress and hardship.

“Once they get refugee status, they need more time, not less, to find housing, work or benefits.

“It takes at least 35 days to start getting universal credit and local authorities need at least 56 days to help them find accommodation.”